Loom protector mechanism



Oct. 8, 1968 J. M. BUDZYNA ET AL 3,404,709

LOOM PROTECTOR MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1967 INVENTOR. I

a; JOSEPH M BUDZYNA Rocco H-MUCCIARONE ATTORNEY J. M. BUDZYNA ETAL LOOM PROTECTOR MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1967 min IIJ

' VENTOR. JOSEPH LJDZYNA.

2 20 cco H. MUQQIARONE 62M 7 [2 .W

A TTORNEY Oct. 8, 1968 J. M. BUDZYNA ET AL 3,404,709

LOOM PROTECTOR MECHANISM Filed Jan. 9. 1967 S Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VE N TOR. JOSEPH M YBUDZYIVA occo H. M UccIARoNE QM Q. W

A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,404,709 LOOM PROTECTOR MECHANISM Joseph M. Budzyna, East Douglas, and Rocco H. Mucciarone, Franklin, Mass., assignors, by mesne assignments, to John Donald Marshall and Horace L. Bomar, trustees under an agreement and indenture of trust Filed Jan. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 608,143 6 Claims. (Cl. 139-346) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention pertains to an improved protector mechanism for fly-shuttle looms. which utilize clutchbrake type power transmitters and slidable frogs. Upon indication for loom stoppage as a result of an improperly boxed shuttle the mechanism provides a means for releasing the power transmitter to braking position prior to engagement of the dagger fingers with the slidable frogs.

It is a general object of the invention to devise a 100m protection mechanism which will provide a more efiicient means for stopping a loom as compared to the known mechanisms of the prior art.

It is a further object to provide a loom protector mechanism in which the forces for stopping a loom, due to an improperly boxed shuttle, are partially absorbed by the brake portion of the looms motor as well as in the slidable frogs.

A further object is that of providing a loom protector mechanism which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which requires a minimum amount of attenion and maintenance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

A common form of protector mechanism utilized in present day fly-shuttle looms is of the protector r-od type having dagger fingers at each end thereof which are adapted to engage so-called steel pieces carried in slidable frogs. The protector rod includes spring biased binder fingers which in a known manner rotate the protector rod, when a shuttle is properly boxed, a sufficient number of degrees so as to lift the dagger fingers clear of the steel pieces.

In the event of an improperly boxed shuttle, the dagger fingers are caused to engage the steel pieces and the loom is brought to an abrupt stop.

This form of loom protection has been utilized for many years and with the older and slower models of looms the mechanism performed its intended function quite satisfactorily with very few difliculties or problems.

With the demands for increased fabric production, looms were built to operate at greater speeds and the means for stopping a loom by the known protector mechanism created conditions and problems which made the need for a more efficient protector mechanism quite essential. v

The newer and faster present day looms became heavier with the strengthening of its design as well as the added mechanisms which were incorporated to meet the requirements of the speed and fabric quality desired. With this added weight and increased speed, the forces for stopping a loom through the protectormechanism are considerably greater. Such undesirable conditions as breakage of loom frames and other cooperating components are known to have been caused as a result of these forces as well as the critical setting that must be maintained to prevent the lay beam from moving too close to front center on such loom stops.

3,404,709 Patented Oct. 8, 1968 ice The loom protector mechanism according to the instant invention provides a quick and efficient stopping means in which the stopping forces are partially absorbed by the brake portion of the looms motor rather than depending solely on the sliding frogs as is the case with such mechanisms of the prior art.

The present mechanism includes dagger fingers which are fixedly attached to and movable with the looms swords. Slidable frogs are assembled on the loom frames in the usual manner and include rockable abutments or so-called steel pieces which on an indication for a loom stop are pivoted to a position to be engaged by the dagger fingers.

An indicating means is adapted to cooperate with each frog and includes a pivotably mounted lever one end of which is in engagement with the shuttle box binder and the opposite end thereof is mechanically linked to a pivotable pawl member disposed in close proximity with the upper surface of the frog.

The frogs include slidable plunger members which are longitudinally movable, with respect to the frogs, a distance sufficient to raise the forward portion of the rockable abutments to a position to be engaged by the dagger fingers. When a shuttle is properly boxed, the pivotable lever moves a suflicient distance to cause the linkage at its opposite end to pivot the pawl member to a position Where it will not contact the plunger member on the forward movement of the lay and its supporting swords. Should a shuttle fail to box properly, the pawl member is not moved and as the swords and lay move toward front center, said pawl contacts the plunger member and moves it forwardly raising the rockable abutments to a position to be engaged by the dagger fingers.

A further loom stopping means is adapted to cooperate with the pivotable pawl members of the indicating means and includes a pivotable lever that is mechanically linked to the release element forming a part of the operating lever of the 'loo ms clutch-brake type of motor. The upper end of this pivotable lever is disposed so as to be contacted by the pawl member at the same time the latter is adapted to contact the plunger member in the event of an improperly boxed shuttle. The pawl member pivots this lever and by means of the linkage connected thereto, the operating lever of the looms motor is released to braking position.

With this arrangement the loom motor is released to braking position before the daggers contact the rockable abutments, thereby stopping the loom less severely by absorbing the forces of stopping through the combination of said loom motor and frogs.

The invention will be described in further detail in the following disclosure wherein reference is made to the accompanying figures of drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the right hand side of a loom showing the mechanism according to the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation and partially in section of the left hand frog and the indicating means cooperating with the shuttle box showing the position of the pivoting pawl in the event of an improperly boxed shuttle;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing how the pawl member is adapted to move the plunger member to raise the rockable abutments to a position to be engaged by the dagger fingers;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing a properly boxed shuttle and the position the pawl member is pivoted to so as not to engage the plunger member;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the left hand side of a loom showing the mechanism according to the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a looms lay beam and swords showing the fixed dagger fingers and means for causing the pivotable pawl members to function in unison; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the support brackets adjacent the center of the lay in which the pawl support rod is guided.

Now referring to the figures of drawing, FIG. 1 shows a portion of the right hand loom frame that is identified by numeral 10 and in FIG. 5 a portion of the left hand loom frame is shown which is depicted by numeral 11. A lay beam 12 is shown in FIG. 6 which in a known manner traverses the distance between the loom frames and is supported for swinging movement by right and left hand swords that are identified by numerals 13 and 14, respectively.

A rocker shaft 15 (FIG. 6) supports the swords in a conventional manner and the ends thereof are journalled in aligned bearing members (not shown) in the lower portion of the loom frames 10 and 11.

A loom motor of the clutch-brake type is identified in FIG. 1 by numeral 16 and is supported by a motor .stand 17 the latter of which is attached by suitable means (not shown) to the loom frame 10.

The loom motor 16 includes an operating lever 18 which in a known manner is pivoted inwardly to engage the driving clutch thereof and when released from that position is spring biased in the opposite direction to automatically engage the brake portion for normal stopping of a loom.

The mechanism in accordance with the instant invention is adapted to function in cooperation with a quick release mechanism that forms a part of the loom motors operating lever and which is shown and fully described in US. patent application 589,285, filed Oct. 25, 1966. The release latch and lever of this quick release mechanism are shown in FIG. 1 and are identified by numerals 19 and 20, respectively.

The lay 12 is provided on each end thereof with a shuttle box into which a shuttle 21 (FIG. 4) is adapted to be received during the performance of its known function. These shuttle boxes are basically alike and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 include such elements as a lay end 22, front box plate 23, back box plate 24 and a binder 25. Portions of the right hand shuttle box are shown in FIG. 1 and are identified by corresponding numerals with the addition of a prime.

Slidable frogs are assembled in a conventional manner on each loom frame 10 and 11 and as shown in FIG. 1, the right hand frog is identified by numeral 26. The left hand frog is more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 and is identified by numeral 27. Since both frogs are basically alike and are caused to function in unison in a like manner, the detailed description and identifying numerals of the various components thereof will for purpose of brevity be directed to the left hand frog 27.

This frog includes a rockable abutment 28 or so-called steel piece which in a manner to be described is adapted to be pivoted upwardly to a position where it will be engaged by a fixed dagger finger 29. The dagger fingers are generally L shaped with one leg thereof serving as a bolting surface for attachment to its respective sword immediately below the lay 12 by means of bolts 30 (one only shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). The second leg serves as a dagger finger and extending forwardly from its anchor point it is adapted to move with the sword above and in close proximity with the upper central surface of its respective frog.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 each frog is provided with a recess 31 in which a plunger member 32 is guided for longitudinal movement. The forward upper end of the plunger is provided with a raised arcuated surface 33 which when said plungeris caused to move forwardly serves as a means for pivoting the rockable abutment to a position to be engaged by the dagger finger 29.

The plunger member is spring biased in a rearward direction by means of a coil spring 34 that is supported by a pin 35 which extends forwardly from the front of the plunger member and is guided in a hole 36 provided in the forward portion of the frog. The plunger member 32 is held within recess 31 by means of a plate 37 which attaches to the upper surface of the frog by means of screws 38. Plate 37 is provided on one side thereof with a longitudinally extended raised camming surface 39 which in a manner to be more fully described controls the element for initiating movement of the plunger memb'er32. I v

To stabilize the rockable abu'tment during loom operation a coil spring 40 is provided having one end thereof in contact with the upper surface of said abutment and the opposite end is seated in a hole provided in the upper portion of the formed pocket which supports the abutment as at 41. That end of the plunger member 32 opposite the raised arcuated surface 33 is provided with a raised, integrally formed and rearwardly extending tail piece 42 which is adapted to cooperate with the indicating means for sensing proper and improper shuttle boxing. This indicating means includes a double armed lever generally indicated by numeral 43 which is pivotably mounted intermediate its ends to a support bracket .44 that is assembled to the back of the lay 12 by means of cap screws 45 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5).

The various components of the indicating means thus far described are those which function in cooperation with the left hand shuttle box; however, FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of the right hand shuttle box and cooperating indicating means components of like configuration and which function in a like manner. Since both these indicating means function in unison and in a like manner, the one on the right hand side will begiven identification numerals corresponding to the left hand but with the addition of primes.

Lever 43 has an upper arm 46 disposed so that the terminus portion thereof is in engagement with the rear side of the binder 25. The lower arm of lever 43 is identified by numeral 47 and has one end of an adjustable linkage rod 48 pivotably connected thereto. The opposite end of this linkage rod 48 is pivotably connected asat 49 to the rear portion of a pivotable pawl member 50. The forward end of this pawl member 50 is in the form of a forwardly extending finger 51 which in a manner to be described hereinafter is adapted to engage or to .be pivoted clear of the tail piece 42 of the plunger member 32 on the forward movement of the lay. Pawl members 50 and 50' are adapted to pivot in unison and are fixedly supported on the ends of a rod 52. This rod traverses the width of the loom and is supported adjacent its ends in aligned holes (not shown) provided in the base portion of the dagger fingers 29 and 29'. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 rod 52 is disposed beneath the lay 12 and-is supported adjacent the center of the latter by means of a pair of depending journal blocks 53 and 54. These journal blocks are disposed in spaced relation and are assembled to the lower surface of the lay by means of bolts 55 and 56.

As a shuttle is received into a shuttle box it pivots the binder rearwardly in a known manner and this movement in turn pivots the upper arm 46 of lever 43 in a like direction. To prevent excessive movement of this upper arm 46, an overthrow stop 57 is provided which assemble to the back of the lay by means of bolts 58. I I

Pawl members 50 and 50' are spring biased in a direction which continually urges thefinger portions 51 and 51' thereof downwardly "toward the upper surface of their respective frogs. 1 t

The means for quick release of the loom motor from operating to braking position which is actuated-by the pivoting pawl member 50"of the indicating-means will now be described.

Referring to FIG. 1, a lever member 59 disposed in a generally vertical plane is pivotably attached at its lower end to the right hand loom frame by means of a bolt 60. The upper end of lever 59 is in alignment with the tail piece 42 of the plunger member supported in frog 26 and on the forward movement of the lay, finger 51 of the pawl member 50" if not pivoted upwardly will contact simultaneously both the tail piece and the upper end of the lever.

A linkage rod 61 is pivotably connected to lever 59 at a point intermediate its ends as at 62 and the opposite end thereof is pivotably attached to one end of a horizontally disposed arm 63. The opposite end of arm 63 is fixedly attached to the upper end of a shaft 64 the latter of which is journalled in a cylindrical housing 65 having opposed bolting flanges 66 and 67 extending laterally therefrom. Housing 65 assembles to the loom frame 10 by any suitable means such as bolts 68 (the head of one only shown in FIG. 1).

The lower end of shaft 64 is provided with a fixed collar 69 having a laterally extending lug 70 to which one end of a release rod 71 is pivotably attached.

In operation, the law swings to and fro in a conventional and well known manner as the shuttle is caused to travel thereacross as well as to be received into and picked from the shuttle boxes forming each end of said lay. During this swinging movement the dagger fingers which are fixed to the swords are caused to move above and in close proximity with the upper control surface of their respective frogs in which the so-called steel pieces are rockably supported.

When a shuttle is properly received into a shuttle box the binder is pivoted rearwardly and the upper arm 46 of lever 43 being in contact therewith is pivoted in a like manner. This motion is transmitted through the lower arm 47 to the linkage rod 48 and the rear portion of the pawl member 50' is pivoted downwardly thus elevating the forward finger 51 a sufiicient distance to clear the tail piece 42 of the plunger member 32.

On the right hand side of the loom pawl member 50 pivots simultaneously in a like manner and is elevated to clear tail piece 42 as well as the upper end of lever 59.

Should a binder fail to be pivoted rearwardly due to a shuttle failing to box properly, lever 43 remains stationary and the fingers 51 and 51' of the pawl members remain in close proximity with the upper surfaces of their respective frogs.

As the lay moves forwardly fingers 51 and 51 contact their respective tail pieces 42 and 42' and continued movement of the lay causes the plunger members to slide forwardly and elevate the rockable abutments to a position to be engaged by the dagger fingers. When finger 51 contacts the upper end of lever 59 and the continued move ment of the lay referred to above causes the upper end of said lever to be pivoted forwardly, this movement moves linkage rod 61 and the release rod 71 in the direction of indicating arrows A and B, respectively, and releases the motor to braking position prior to the dagger fingers moving the frogs the limit of their travel to stop the loom.

After fingers 51 and 51 have moved their respective members a distance sufiicient for the dagger fingers to engage the rockable abutments in the frogs, said fingers come into contact with the raised camming surfaces 39 and 39 and pivot the fingers upwardly out of contact with the plunger members. This pivoting movement of the pawl members releases the latter so that none of the forces for stopping the loom are taken up by the indicating means.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a loom having a clutch-brake motor, a lay, opposed shuttle boxes forming the ends of said lay and pivotable binder members forming a part of each shuttle box for arresting the flight of a shuttle as it is received therein, rockable sword members disposed in spaced relation for supporting said lay and having dagger fingers movable therewith, and fixedly positioned thereon, slidable frog members with rockable abutments supported therein, slidable plunger members carried by each of said frogs, means deriving an indication from said pivotable binder members and effective to cause braking of said motor and elevation of said rockable abutments, said motor braking taking effect just prior to engagement of said dagger fingers with said abutments.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said means includes a lever member and a cooperating pivotable pawl member, said lever member being pivotably attached to said lay having one end thereof in contact with said binder and the opposite end mechanically linked to said pawl member for positioning the latter to activate said plunger member upon indication of improper shuttle boxing.

3. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said frogs include guide cams for moving said pawl members out of engagement with said plunger members prior to the limit of movement of said frogs.

4. The mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said pivotable pawl members are caused. to move in unison and include a support rod disposed below said lay which extends longitudinally therewith.

5. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said loom includes a further means adapted to be activated by the pawl of said indicating means for releasing said motor to braking position prior to engagement of said dagger fingers with said rockable abutments.

6. The mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said further means includes a pivotable lever member disposed for engagement by said pawl and mechanically linked to said motor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 847,653 3/ 1907 Cunniif 139-346 FOREIGN PATENTS 659,642 2/ 1929 France.

HENRY S. JAUDON, Primary Examiner. 

